Gyton Grantley

Gyton Grantley
Born (1980-07-17) 17 July 1980
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
EducationAnglican Church Grammar School (1997)
Queensland University of Technology (2003)
OccupationsActor, comedian
Years active2001–present
Known forUnderbelly
House Husbands
Children3

Gyton James Grantley (born 17 July 1980) is an Australian actor and comedian, best known for his portrayal of convicted murderer and drug trafficker Carl Williams in the hit Australian television show Underbelly.

Early life

Grantley was born to parents Dick and Sandy[1] and he has a brother.[2] He was educated at the Anglican Church Grammar School in Brisbane, where he graduated in 1997.[3] During his school years, he was a rugby union player and a rower. He was also heavily involved in drama and theatre-sports, and won the Headmaster's Prize for Drama in his senior year.[3]

After he finished high school, not confident he could make a living out of acting, Grantley studied an arts degree at the University of Queensland. However, after a year, he decided to audition for Queensland University of Technology (QUT). Unsuccessful on his first attempt, he was finally accepted two weeks before the year started. He graduated in 2001 with his acting degree.[4][2] He began doing voiceover work at the age of 18, while studying.[5] Soon thereafter, he moved to Sydney, where he secured an agent.[4]

Career

Grantley began his screen acting career in 2001, with a guest appearance in comedy drama series Fat Cow Motel alongside Brendan Cowell, playing Gary Walpole.[6] Over the next few years, he had several small roles in films including Schoolies week drama Blurred (2002),[7] comedy Danny Deckchair (2003) with Rhys Ifans,[8] adventure-comedy Under the Radar (2004) with Nathan Phillips[9] and A Man's Gotta Do (2004).[10] He also made further guest appearances in television, including two-part miniseries Marking Time (2003) with Abbie Cornish,[11] and legal series Small Claims (2004–2006) with Claudia Karvan and Rebecca Gibney.[12][13]

From late 2005, Grantley began playing the ongoing role of Dane Pickerstaff in short-lived drama series headLand.[14] In 2006, he had a small role in Foxtel comedy-drama series Supernova,[15] before landing a 10-episode guest role in long-running soap opera Home and Away the following year. His character, nurse James Dalton, was involved in a love triangle with Kit Hunter (Amy Mizzi) who was pregnant to Kim Hyde (Chris Hemsworth).[16][17] Grantley also appeared in 2007 romantic comedy film All My Friends Are Leaving Brisbane alongside Ryan Johnson.[18]

In 2008, Grantley shot to fame in the first season of high-rating underworld crime drama Underbelly, playing real life antagonist and criminal Carl Williams, opposite Kat Stewart, Rodger Corser, Damian Walshe-Howling and Callan Mulvey.[19][20] His performance won him the award for 'Most Outstanding Actor' at the Logie Awards.[21]

In 2009, he had a starring role as Sumo in 30 Seconds, reuniting with his Underbelly co-star Kat Stewart, and appearing alongside Peter O'Brien and Stephen Curry.[22] He also starred opposite Don Hany and Susie Porter in the second season of East West 101, as Craig Deakin.[23] He also appeared in the 2009 Tropfest Short Film Festival finalist Being Carl Williams where Grantley, playing himself, is abducted by two criminals who mistake him for Carl Williams after his role in Underbelly.[24] That same year, he had a small role in romantic crime film Prime Mover opposite Michael Dorman[25] as well as featuring in biographical war film Balibo with Anthony LaPaglia.[26]

In 2010, Grantley played the role of Norman Morris in war drama Beneath Hill 60 opposite Brendan Cowell[27] and then starred as Matt in shark thriller The Reef, reuniting with his Underbelly cast mate Damian Walshe-Howling in the latter.[28]

In 2012, Grantley was cast in a new series, House Husbands, playing Kane Albert, one of the four main characters.[29] In 2015, he left the series after its fourth season, however returned in the fifth-season finale for a brief appearance.[30]

It was announced in late 2013 that Grantley would be reprising his role of Carl Williams in the spin-off series Fat Tony & Co. (which was not placed under the Underbelly franchise, for financing reasons), which focused on the rise and fall of Tony Mokbel, who also featured in the original series, played by Robert Mammone.[31] During this time, Grantley appeared in his first stage musical, portraying comic rogue Luther Billis in Opera Australia's production of South Pacific. After having auditioned for the role, he took over from Eddie Perfect, for the Brisbane season.[32] In 2015, Grantley appeared as Barney McSwiney in comedy-drama film The Dressmaker (2015), alongside Kate Winslet, Judy Davis, Sarah Snook and Liam Hemsworth.[33]

Grantley appeared in 2017 film Don't Tell, playing opposite Aden Young and Jack Thompson.[34] That same year, he also took on his first TV presenting role, as host of Network 10's Pooches at Play, a lifestyle show all about dogs and our relationship with them,[35] continuing for three seasons,[36] until 2018. That same year, he performed in the role of Jason in the theatrical production Hand to God.[37] In 2019, he took on the role of Ron Weasley in the Australian stage production, of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in Melbourne.[38]

Grantley reprised his role of Carl Williams for the third time in Informer 3838, in 2020. He has since said that the role – which had made him famous – led to people calling him 'Carl' almost everyday.[39]

In 2021, Grantley served as narrator on the reality show Space Invaders,[40] which he has continued for six seasons, through to 2026. In 2023, he played the role of Cain Foster in the TV series We Were Tomorrow, as well as Allan Carter in the crime drama miniseries Human Error.[41] That same year, he competed in the second season of reality series The Traitors, alongside reality personality Ash Pollard and Australian Survivor alumnus Luke Toki.[42] He was 'banished' in the second episode.[43]

Most recently, Grantley played the character of Wally in 2024 children's film Woody Woodpecker Goes to Camp.[44] On 25 August 2025, he was named in the cast for the film Her Aussie Romance.[45] Once complete, the Hallmark film was renamed A Melbourne Match.

Grantley has also performed voiceover work in television advertisements for Subway, Starbucks, Bupa, Google and NRL.[5]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2001 Bad Ass Mono-Winged Angel Owen Short film [46]
2002 Blurred Gavin Feature film [7]
2003 Swimming Upstream Swimmer Feature film
Danny Deckchair Stuey Feature film [8]
2004 Under the Radar Trent Feature film [9]
A Man's Gotta Do Dominic Feature film [10]
2005 In a Pickle Officer Barry Short film
2007 All My Friends Are Leaving Brisbane Jake Feature film [18]
2009 Beyond Words Guy Short film
Being Carl Williams Himself Short film [24]
Prime Mover Repo Man #1 Feature film [25]
Balibo Gary Cunningham Feature film [26]
2010 Beneath Hill 60 Norman Morris Feature film (Anzac Day release) [27]
The Reef Matt Feature film [47][28]
Lucydia James Short film
2011 Everything is Super Shadow Short film
The Maestro The Maestro Short film
The Forgotten Man Woodcarver Short film
Full Catch Ramon Short film
My Beautiful Departed Stranger Short film
2015 At the End Wanderer Short film
The Dressmaker Barney McSwiney Feature film [33]
Spaghetti Principal B.R. Occoli Short film
2017 The Anthesis of Man Victim #1 Short film
Don't Tell Kevin Guy Feature film [48]
2023 The Bank Manager Banks Short film
2024 The Nut Farm Farmer Dee Feature film
Woody Woodpecker Goes to Camp Wally (Mocap) Feature film [44]
TBA Payback Pie Trevor Short film [49]
TBA Social Distancing Short film
Chucky Short film [50]

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2003 Fat Cow Motel Gary Warpole 2 episodes [6]
Marking Time Shane Sheather Miniseries [11]
Mermaids Tim TV movie [51]
2004 The Cooks Danny 1 episode
2004–2006 Small Claims Brett Michaels / Det Snr Const Brett Michaels 3 episodes [12][13]
2004; 2007 All Saints Jared Clark / Andy Patton 2 episodes [52][53]
2005–2006 headLand Dane Pickerstaff 11 episodes [14]
2006 Supernova Jeff 1 episode [15]
2007 Home and Away Jamie Dalton 10 episodes [16][17]
2008 Underbelly Carl Williams Miniseries, 13 episodes [19][20]
Out of the Blue Alex Jarvis 2 episodes
2009 Rescue: Special Ops Willo 1 episode [54]
30 Seconds Sumo 6 episodes [22]
A Model Daughter: The Killing of Caroline Byrne Andrew Blanchette TV movie [55]
East West 101 Craig Deakin 6 episodes [23]
2012–2017 House Husbands Kane Albert 47 episodes [29][30]
2013 Cliffy Powell TV movie [56]
2014 Fat Tony & Co. Carl Williams Miniseries, 9 episodes [31]
2017 House of Bond Peter Beckwith Miniseries, 2 episodes
True Story with Hamish & Andy Brett 1 episode
2017–2018 Pooches at Play Narrator [35][36]
2018 Olivia Newton-John: Hopelessly Devoted to You Roger Davies Miniseries, 1 episode [57]
Drunk History Australia Ned Kelly
The Doctor Blake Mysteries Don Roper 1 episode [58]
Orange Is the New Brown Bush Bros / Whatsisname / Competitive Dad 2 episodes
Thuggery James March 6 episodes
2020 Informer 3838 Carl Williams Miniseries, 2 episodes [59][39]
2021–2026 Space Invaders Narrator 56 episodes [40]
2022 Two Blue Lines York Miniseries
2024 Human Error Allan Carter Miniseries, 5 episodes [40]
We Were Tomorrow Cain Foster 6 episodes [40][60]
2026 A Melbourne Match Scott TV movie

Other appearances

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2023 The Traitors Contestant Season 2, 2 episodes [42][43]
2024 The Big Trip Self 5 episodes
2025 Claire Hooper's House of Games Contestant 5 episodes [61]

Theatre

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2011Ruben GuthrieRuben GuthrieRoundhouse Theatre, Brisbane with La Boite[62]
2013South PacificLuther BillisLyric Theatre, Brisbane / Sydney Opera House with Opera Australia[32][63]
2018Hand to GodJasonThe Alex Theatre, Melbourne[37]
2019Harry Potter and the Cursed ChildRon WeasleyPrincess Theatre, Melbourne[38]
2026CommentaryNickDunstan Playhouse, Adelaide with STCSA[64]

Awards

Year Work Award Category Notes Ref
2008UnderbellyAFI AwardsMost Outstanding Actor in a Drama SeriesWon[21]
2009UnderbellyLogie AwardsLogie Award for Most Outstanding ActorWon[65]
UnderbellyLogie AwardsMost Popular ActorNominated
2014House HusbandsEquity Ensemble AwardsOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama SeriesNominated
CliffyEquity Ensemble AwardsOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Miniseries or TelemovieNominated

Personal life

Grantley is married to schoolteacher Alex Ortuso.[34][66] The couple initially met at a music festival in Queensland in 2010,[66] but started their relationship when Grantley moved to Melbourne, after securing his role in House Husbands.[4] After dating for five years, they got engaged in Italy in 2015, before wedding in secret, in a private registry ceremony in early 2016.[34][66] This was followed by a celebration in Byron Bay in April 2016, officiated by Grantley's House Husbands co-star Julia Morris.[40]

The couple revealed on the day of their wedding that Alex was 17 weeks pregnant with their first child.[40] Their son was born on 10 August 2016, arriving five weeks early.[34] They welcomed their second child, a daughter on 2 May 2019.[67] Their third child, another daughter, was born on 16 February 2021.[68]

Since 2023, Grantley and his family have been living on the Italian island of Sardinia,[69] the ancestral home of his wife, having put their Ivanhoe family home up for lease.[70]

Grantley previously dated comedian Nikki Osborne, after having met at drama school.[71]

Grantley is actively involved with the Australian organisation, 'Polished Man', which helps support and raise awareness for children affected by violence.[72]

References

  1. ↑ Shearer, Geoff (1 September 2018). Gyton Grantley talks about his little guy, son Rocco. The Courier-Mail.
  2. 1 2 Aubrey, Marika. "How We Do What We Do: Gyton Grantley with Marika Aubrey". aussietheatre.com.au. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  3. 1 2 Mason, James (2011). Churchie: The Centenary Register. Brisbane, Australia: The Anglican Church Grammar School. p. 275. ISBN 978-0-646-55807-3.
  4. 1 2 3 Simiele, Dan (16 September 2021). "Gyton Grantley". wildrhinoshoes.com.au. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  5. 1 2 "Gyton Grantley, Male Voice Actor with RMK Voices".
  6. 1 2 "Fat Cow Motel – Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  7. 1 2 "Blurred – Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  8. 1 2 "Danny Deckchair – Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  9. 1 2 "Under the Radar – Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  10. 1 2 "A Man's Gotta Do – Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  11. 1 2 "Marking Time – Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  12. 1 2 "Small Claims: episode guide | The Meeting". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  13. 1 2 "Small Claims: White Wedding – Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  14. 1 2 "Headland: cast". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  15. 1 2 "Supernova: episode guide | Series 2". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  16. 1 2 Doyle, Erin (16 September 2021). "Double act! All the Home and Away stars who've appeared on Underbelly". New Idea. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  17. 1 2 "James Dalton". backtothebay.net. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  18. 1 2 "All My Friends Are Leaving Brisbane – Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  19. 1 2 "Underbelly: episode guide | Series 1". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  20. 1 2 Bucklow, Andrew (6 June 2018). "Gyton Grantley reveals how playing Carl Williams turned his life 'upside down'". news.com.au. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  21. 1 2 "AACTA Awards | Winners & Nominees | 2008". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  22. 1 2 "30 Seconds: cast". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  23. 1 2 "East West 101 – Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  24. 1 2 "Australian Short Film Today". asiasociety.org. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  25. 1 2 "Prime Mover – Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  26. 1 2 "Balibo – Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  27. 1 2 "Beneath Hill 60 – Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  28. 1 2 "The Reef – Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  29. 1 2 Knox, David (6 August 2016). "Gay dads in House Husbands". TV Tonight. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
  30. 1 2 Knox, David (23 May 2016). "New season of House Husbands commences production without Gyton Grantley". TV Tonight. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  31. 1 2 Vickery, Colin (25 February 2014). "Big Read: Gyton Grantley on playing Carl Williams in Fat Tony and Co". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  32. 1 2 Litson, Jo (31 August 2013). "Underbelly and House Husbands star Gyton Grantley handles the jump from television to musicals in South Pacific". The Herald Sun. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  33. 1 2 "The Dressmaker – Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  34. 1 2 3 4 "Gyton and Alex's baby joy: Five weeks early but growing like a champ!". The Daily Telegraph. 16 August 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  35. 1 2 "HIF announces partnership with new TEN show, Pooches at Play". healthhub.hif.com.au. 15 July 2017. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  36. 1 2 "Check Out The Pooches at Play TV Series on Channel 10". poochesatplay.com. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  37. 1 2 "Hand to God". artsreview.com.au. 28 February 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  38. 1 2 "Cast Announced For Australian Premiere Production". Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Melbourne. 30 August 2018. Archived from the original on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  39. 1 2 "'I get called Carl every day': Underbelly's Gyton Grantley a decade on". The Sydney Morning Herald. 10 April 2020.
  40. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Grubb, Jessica (12 April 2016). "Gyton Grantley's big surprise: a wedding… and a baby!". Woman's Day. Retrieved 17 May 2026 – via nowtolove.com.au.
  41. ↑ "Underbelly actor Gyton Grantly is secretly a master chef in the kitchen!". New Idea. 17 April 2023. Retrieved 17 May 2026 – via nowtolove.com.au.
  42. 1 2 "10 unveils famous faces in the Traitors". TV Tonight. 22 May 2023.
  43. 1 2 Demertzis, Vera (16 August 2023). "'I'd love to do it again'; Gyton Grantley reflects on The Traitors experience". southernhighlandnews.com.au. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  44. 1 2 "Woody Woodpecker Goes to Camp – Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  45. ↑ Slatter, Sean (24 August 2025). "Colin Budds' 'Her Aussie Romance' sets Melbourne backdrop with Mallory Jansen, Ryan Corr, Dannii Minogue". IF Magazine. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
  46. ↑ "Bad Ass Mono-Winged Angel". Screen Australia. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  47. ↑ First photos from THE REEF Archived 7 November 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  48. ↑ "Don't Tell – Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  49. ↑ "Award-Winner Gyton Grantley Joins Scott Major in Crime Comedy Short Film". FilmInk. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  50. ↑ "Projects | Some Examples of Rory and Janneke's Work". w-w.com.au. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  51. ↑ "Mermaids – Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  52. ↑ "All Saints: episode guide | Series 7". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  53. ↑ "All Saints: episode guide | Series 10". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  54. ↑ "RESCUE Special Ops: episode guide | Series 1". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  55. ↑ "Telemovies & Miniseries | 2009 | A Model Daughter – The Killing of Caroline Byrne". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  56. ↑ "Telemovies & Miniseries | 2013 | Cliffy". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  57. ↑ "ONJ - Hopelessly Devoted to You: episode guide | Part 2". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  58. ↑ "The Blake Mysteries: episode guide". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  59. ↑ "Carl Williams is back: Gyton Grantley returns to life of crime for third hit". The Age. 15 October 2019.
  60. ↑ "We Were Tomorrow: episode guide". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  61. ↑ "Claire Hooper's House of Games: Series 1". iview.abc.net.au. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  62. ↑ "Underbelly Star for Ruben Guthrie in Brisbane". AusStage. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  63. ↑ James, Erin (23 November 2012). "Gyton Grantley hits the stage in South Pacific, Brisbane". AusStage. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  64. ↑ "State Theatre Company presents | Commentary | By Ash Flanders". adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  65. ↑ "Underbelly stars score Logies". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts. 3 May 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  66. 1 2 3 "Our favourite House Husband is about to become a real-life husband". Mamamia. 15 September 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  67. ↑ Sullivan, Rebecca (9 May 2019). "Underbelly and House Husbands star Gyton Grantley welcomes gorgeous baby girl". Woman's Day. Retrieved 18 May 2026 – via nowtolove.com.au.
  68. ↑ Doyle, Erin (19 February 2021). "It's a girl! Gyton Grantley's baby joy". New Idea. Retrieved 17 May 2026 – via nowtolove.com.au.
  69. ↑ Vnuk, Helen (9 October 2024). "Now based in Sardinia, Gyton Grantley opens up about playing a suburban Aussie criminal – again". TV Week. Retrieved 18 May 2026 – via nowtolove.com.au.
  70. ↑ Mawby, Nathan (4 April 2024). "Gyton Grantley puts Ivanhoe family home up for lease again after extending European sojourn". news.com.au. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  71. ↑ Hunt, Sharon (11 November 2024). "The Big Trip's Nikki Osborne spills on her secret past with teammate Gyton Grantley". TV Week. Retrieved 18 May 2026 – via nowtolove.com.au.
  72. ↑ "Gyton Grantley's new film fits in with his campaign for victims of child abuse". The Daily Telegraph. 20 March 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
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